Radio clock



L. F. BUSH RADIO CLOCK April 25, 1933.

Filed March 5,- 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR I LezyFBzza/z.

A TTORNE Y.

L. F. BUSH RADIO CLOCK April 25, 1933.

Filed March 5, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 Z WM 7 l1 970/ l WW a w n QM almwk w y w a a M w M; H M f w Q H ENTOR BY Lenzy ATTORNEY L. F. BUSHRADIO CLOCK April 25, 1933.

Filed March 5, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Leroy. [291452 B Y Wig MMATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEROY F. BUSH, OF EDWARDSVILLE,KANSAS RADIO CLOCK Application filed March 5, 1928. Serial No. 259,095.

The present invention relates to time-settingdevices for electriccircuit making and breaking mechanism, and has particular reference todevices of this nature especially 5 adapted for controlling the circuitsof rad1o receiving apparatus, with a View to automatically making andbreaking circuits at predetermined intervals.

Accordingly, the primary object of my m- 10 vention is to devise amechanism adapted to be associated with a clock and in connection withan electric circuit and adapted to be manually regulated and set formaking and breaking the circuit by the operation of the clockwork at anydesired times for which said mechanism is set.

It is also sought to provide a device of this general character whichwill be adapted to control the circuit by manually adjusted 23 meansindependently of the usual control switch provided in the circuit.

It is further sought to provide a time controlled mechanism of thisnature which will not be limited to radio receiver work, but which willbe adapted for general use in the control of circuits where theautomatic mak-. ing and breaking of the circuit at predetermined timeintervals is required.

With these general objects in View, the in- 30 vention will now bedescribed by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating oneform of construction and arrangement for embodying the same in practicalform, after which those features and combinations deemedv to be novelwill be set forth and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation showing a portion of thefront panel of a radio receiving 4 cabinet, equipped with the presentimprovements;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same; Figure 3 is a plan view of thesame on a larger scale and with the panel portion of the cabinet inhorizontal section;

Figure 4 is a similar plan view with the clock casing broken away todisclose the parts within;

Figure 5 is an elevation, with parts broken away and showing the rearside of the setting mechanism hereinafter referred to;

Figure 6 is an edge viewof the same;

Figure 7 is a sectional View, representing a section taken on the lineVII-VII of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a detail section of the diaphragm and insulating elementshereinafter referred to, and represents a section taken on the lineVIII-VIII of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is an enlarged face view of the front side of the clockmechanism with the circuit connections thereto;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view showing a portion ofthe rotating insulating element and connection to its driving oradjusting gear; and

Figure 11 is an. enlarged sectional detail illustrating the driverelation between the clockwork shafts parts connected therewith.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, these illustrate the inventionin its operative relation to a radio receiving cabinet provided with theusual exterior knob 21 for operating a switch device 22 for opening andclosing the circuit through the receiver, said circuit including theconductors 23 connected with the binding posts 24 of the switch 22.Connected with these same posts 24, or the conductors 23, are a pair ofsecondary leads or conductors 25, leading to the radio orcircuit-controlling clock device comprising a clock casing 26 containingany suitable clock mechanism and including also a suitable aux,- iliarycasing 28 with its dial plate or face 29 set in an opening in the frontpanel of the cabinet 20 and to which the flangeor margin 30 of saidauxiliary casing is secured by screws 31 or the like, as represented inFigures 1 and 2. Suitable winding mechanism may also be provided for theclockwork including an exterior knob 32 on the panel front, and caring33 connected with the winding shaft 41 of the clock (Figure 2).

The time or program setting mechanism comprising my invention is housedwithin the auxiliary casing 28 between the dial plate 29 and one of theouter frame plates 34 of the clockwork, the edge of the plate 29 beingprovided with spacing fingers 35 terminating in attaching lugs 36adapted to be inserted through openings 37 of the plate 34 for rigidlysecuring together said plates 29 and 34, and with the central opening 38of the dial face in line with the shaft 39 of the minute hand 40 of theclock mechanism. In the present construction this shaft 39 as well asthe sleeve shaft 42 of the hour hand 44 are made sufliciently long tospan the extra distance between the plate 34 and the face of the dial.

Journaled upon the sleeve shaft 42 is a gear ring 45, the interiorportion of which comprises a helical diaphragm 46 of suitable conductivematerial, formed with a lug 47 forkeying the ring and diaphragm to asleeve 48, which is also lined with an insulating sleeve 49 fitting theshaft 42.

Meshing with the gear ring is a pinion 50 of fibrous material forlnsulating purposes, and this pinion in turn meshes with a second pinion51 fast to a short shaft 52 journaled in an extension 53 from a late 54which fits against the rear face 0 the dial plate 29. One end of theshaft 52 projects out through the margin 30 of the easing 28, where itis fitted with a knob 55.

Intermeshing with the helical conducting diaphragm 46 is asimilarhelical-shaped nonconducting or insulating element 60 having acentral hub portion 61 fitting over the sleeve 48 and keyed, asindicated at 62 (Figure 10) to the central opening 63 of a. gear wheel64 which rotates about said hub 61 as an axis. The teeth of the gearwheel 64 mesh with a pinion 66 which in turn meshes with a pinion 67 ona'short shaft 68 journaled in another extension 70 from the plate 54 andprojecting out through the margln 30 of the casing 28, where it also isprovided with a knob 72 for turning purposes. The pinions 50 and 66 arejournaled on pins 73 carried by the plate 54. A sheet 75 of suitableinsulating material is interposed between the gear ring 45 and wheel 64and formed with a central opening 76 for the hub 61 and with asmalleropening 77 for one of the pins 73 to help retain said sheet 75 inposition. The other pin 73 carries a fiber latch plate 78 retainedb anut 80 in position for overlapping the e ge of the gear ring 45 andassisting in keeping the latter in proper position and entirelyinsulated from the remaining parts.

From this construction it will be seen that by the turning of the gearring 45 and wheel 64 and correspondingly rotating the diaphram 46 andinsulating element 60, these latter may be moved into greater or lessintermeshing relation for exposing a greater or less area of thediaphragm 46 into contacting relation to a yielding revolving brushelement 82 which is carried by the sleeve shaft 42 but insulatedtherefrom by a flanged fiber bushing 84. The resilient character of thebrush 82 maintains contact with the diaphragm or element 60 regardlessof the slight movement of these parts axially of the shaft 42 due to thedifferent intermeshed relations of said parts as they rotate.

The base of the brush element 82 is provided with a groove 86 forcontact with the forked portion 87 of another brush element 88connecting with a contact screw 90 secured to the frame plate 34 andinsulated therefrom by a suitable insulating washer 92; to this contactscrew is also secured one of the conducting wires 25. The otherconducting wire 25 is connected to a contact screw 94 insulated by awasher 96 from the frame plate 34, and to this screw is also secured oneend of a. second resilient brush 97 (see Figures 4 and 9) the free endof which extends in position for maintaining yielding contact engagementwith the margin of the gear ring 45.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the gear member 45 and itsdiaphragm element 46 are completely insulated from the remaining parts,and the circuit can be closed through the conducting wires 25 only whenboth of the brush elements 82 and 97 are in electric contact with saidgear member and diaphragm element, which is possible for only suchperiods as the brush element 82 is contacting with a portion of thediaphragm element that has been uncovered by the insulating element 60.The length .of such period of course corresponds to the extent of suchuncovered area of the diaphragm element and the time required for thebrush 82, which moves at the rate of the hour hand, to traverse thisarea. By operating the knobs and 72, it is apparent that the gearmembers 45 and 6'4 may be conveniently turned for bringing the elements46 and into more or less completely intermeshed relation, and thusvarying the extent of travel, and hence the length of the correspondingtime period during which the brush is in contact with the diaphragm andthereby the length of time the circuit will be closed through thereceiving set.

The lug 47 projecting out from the diaphragm element 46 limits therelative rotative movement of the parts 46 and 60 in one direction, anda lug 98 on the outer margin of the element 60 similarly limits saidrotative movement in the opposite direction by engaging one of the edgesof the element 46; and y providing notches 99 and 100 in the elements 46and 60, respectively, for suificiently clearing said lugs 98 and 47,respectively, to permit either complete uncovering or complete coveringof the diaphragm element 46, it is apparent that the circuit may bemaintained either continuously closed or continuously open as the casemay be. Obviously, also, this operation is entirely independent of theoperation of the switch element 22.

A pair of indicator hands 101' and 102 are attached to the outer ends ofthe hub 61 and sleeve 48, respectively, and preferably finished incontrasting colors, e. g. green and red, respectively. These indicatorhands are so attached as to cause the green hand 101 to aline radiallywith the edge of the insulating element 60 which is exposed in Figure 5,and the red hand 102 to be radially alined with the edge of thediaphragm element 46 which is also exposed in said View, and since therotating brush element 82 is similarly alined in the same radialrelation with the hour hand 44, it will be evident that the green andred hands 101 and 102 will register the beginning and endof the exposedarea of the diaphragm element, and hence the points on the dial 29 atwhich the hour hand will be located at the beginning and end of thecorresponding time interval. It is therefore only necessary to set thecolored hands at those points on the dial corresponding to the positionsof the hour hand at the beginning and end of any given period of time,as, e. g. the time interval corresponding to a radio program which theoperator may desire to receive, and it will be evident that thereceiving circuit will be automatically closed and opened at the be-.ginning and end of the program.

If desired, the clock dial may be calibrated to show, e. g. ten minuteintervals besides the usual minute scae, for convenience in setting thehands 101 and 102, as represented in Figure 1 for one of the five minutespaces, and which of course may be carried out entirely around the faceof the dial.

\Vhile the provision of the separate knobs and gear connections to thediaphragm element 46 and insulating element 60 affords independentadjusting meansfor varying the positions of these elements, 1t isposslble to use but one of said knobs and gear connections, for examplethe knob 55, for carrying out the complete operation of setting theclock for a program; this may be done by turning the knob in acounterclockwlse direction for positioning the hand 101 at the properpoint (corresponding to the beginning of the program), in whichoperation both hands will move in unison, the lug 47 being seated in thenotch 100 and the diaphragm element thereforerarrymg the insulatingelement along wlth it in the same direction; then by turning the knob inthe opposite direction the diaphragm element 46 and the other hand 102will be turned forward to the proper point correspond ing to the end ofthe program, there being sufficient friction for holding the insulatingelement and its operating connections stationary during this setting ofthe hand 102. On the other hand, the setting operation may be carriedout entirely by operation of the knob 7 2. first in a clockwisedirection for positioning the hand 102 at the proper point correspondingto the end of the program,'both hands moving in unison as before and theinsulating element 60 carrying the diaphragm element along with'it inthe same direction; then by turning said knob 72 in the oppositedirection, the insulating element will be turned backward to the properpoint corresponding to the beginning of the program while frictionoperates to hold the diaphragm element stationary during this setting ofthe hand 101. Thereafter, in case it should be desired to continue theprogram beyond the time set, the said knob 55 can be turned to carry thehand '101 further around the dial which will extend the exposed area ofthe diaphragm and result in keeping the receiver circuit closed for acorrespondingly longer time. Similarly, the right hand knob 72 may berotated for moving the insulating element backwards for closing thecircuit earlier and thereby starting the program sooner if desired,without affecting the time already set for the stopping of the receiversoperation by the other knob 55.

It will thus be apparent that I have devised a practical and eflicient,and yet comparatively simple, arrangement and construction for carryingout the desired objects of the invention, and while I have illustratedone practical embodiment thereof, it is obvious that the invention isnot to be restricted to this specific form and that it is susceptible ofother forms of embodiment for carrying out the time regulation andcontrol of the circuit making and breaking function of many types ofelectric apparatus. I therefore desire to be understood as reserving theright to make all such changes and modifications as may fairly fallwithin the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what 1 claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1s:

1. In a time controlled circuit breaking device, the combination of acircuit making and breaking device including a pair of cooperative andrelatively movable elements, adapted to expose varying amounts ofconductive material, a brush traversing said elements. a clock providedwith connections for actuating said brush, separate means forselectively positioning said elements for different time intervals, andindicators on the face of the clock and actuated by said positioningmeans for registering the respective starting and stopping points of thecorresponding time interval.

2. In a time controlled circuit breaking device, the combination of acircuit making and breaking device including a pair of cooperative andrelatively movable elements adapted to expose varying amounts ofconductive material, gear mechanism operative to move said elements inunison in one direction for setting one of said elements and thereafteroperative to independently move the other element in the oppositedirection to position said other element in accordance with the lengthof a given time interval, and a clock-actuated brush traversing said elements.

3. In a time controlled circuit breaking device, the combination of acircuit making and breaking device including a pair of cooperative andrelatively movable elements adapted to expose varying amounts ofconductive material, a gear mechanism operative to move both of saidelements in unison in one direction for setting one of said elements andthereafter operative to independently move the other element in theopposite direction to position said other element in accordance with thelength of a given time interval, a separate gear mechanism for impartingan independent adjusting movement brush traversing said elements.

In witness whereof I hereunto afiix my signature: 1

LEROY F. BUSH.

to said other element, and a clock-actuated brush traversing saidelements.

4. In a time controlled circuit breaking device, the combination of acircuit making and breaking device including a pair of cooperative andrelatively movable elements adapted to. expose varying amounts ofconductive material, a brush traversing said element, a clock providedwith connections for actuating said brush, gear mechanism operative tomove said elements in unison in one direction for setting one of saidelements and thereafter operative to independently move the otherelement in the opposite direction to position said other element inaccordance with the length of a given time interval, and indicators onthe face of the clock having connections with said elements foractuation thereby to respectively register the starting and stoppingpoints of the corresponding time interval.

5. In a time controlled circuit breaking device, the combination of acircuit making and breaking device including a pair of co operative andrelatively movable elements adapted to expose varying amounts ofconductive material, said elements having inter- 50 engaging portionslimiting the relative movement thereof into positions either completelycovering or completely uncovering and exposing said conductive material,means operative to move said elements simultaneously with said portionsthereof in positive en-

